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Are Rookie Middle Linebackers Becoming A Fad?

August 8th, 2011

Much hand-wringing has taken place over the fact Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has deemed a college outside linebacker from the PAC-10 can be a viable starting middle linebacker in the NFL after only being a pro for a handful of days, and the start of the regular season a month away.

This scares the hell out of Joe, but this move could be a pattern.

Many Bucs fans were so angry over Team Glazer, through Dominik, for only throwing cash at a punter, that said fans’ dogs were afraid to walk into the same room as their master for fear of getting kicked in the ribs.

These same fans went delirious with rage watching the Eagles sign virtually every warm body (Vince Young?!) available in order to buy a Super Bowl. Why, these same Bucs fans lost their minds so completely, they actually had the nerve to suggest on live radio no less that the Bucs should go after Braylon Edwards if you can imagine such a thing?

But lost in the hysteria over the Eagles throwing money around like Joe after Courtney the Bartender has served him multiple adult beverages was that the Eagles too plan on starting a rookie middle linebacker who hails from the PAC-10 in their march to a purchased Super Bowl.

Matthews, the younger brother of Packers beastly middle linebacker Clay Matthews, was drafted in the third round just like Bucs projected rookie starting middle linebacker Mason Foster, only Foster was selected ahead of Matthews.

Could this be a growing trend of starting rookie middle linebackers? It’s very curious to Joe that a team that tried to go all Danny Snyder this season has chosen to leave such an important position to a rookie.

I agree Espo. I think its a huge gamble to start a rook at MLB. We got used to seeing our last MLB make tackles 7+ yards down the field. Now we might get used to seeing blown coverage. Inside the hash marks will be open down the filed if we plan on Tampa-2in’ the rook.

I was all in favor of turning the page. With either McKenzie or Foster, we’d have growing pains. In the end, we’ll be better. Right now I just hope I don’t end up slamming my hat down on the caveman looking guy who usually sits in front of me.

I see it as more of a the MLB doesn’t always have to be the defensive leader kind of thing anymore. In the old school view of my football fans, the MLB has be to cast in the mold of Ray Lewis or Dick Butkus. In today’s game, the an OLB or even a safety could line up the D.

Think outside the box people. The game can progress… Let’s see what Foster can do. As long as he “makes mistakes at full speed,” I’m not going to be that angry.

This is definitely a growing trend. Not necessarily that teams will start rookies but that MLB in a 4-3 is becoming less a less important position than it has historically been. Its a pretty well known fact at this point that MLB in a 4-3 defense is becoming a sort of plug and play position. The weakside in today’s 4-3 is where you want your biggest playmaker. You can thank Derrick Brooks and the Tampa2 defense for that. Seriously. How many 4-3 middle linebackers have gone in the first round of the draft in the last couple of years? Rolando McClain and….. nobody? 4-3 teams are much more concerned with finding the next Derrick Brooks at weakside linebacker than they are with finding a star MLB. Hell Casey Matthews was a 4th round pick and is considered a more limited athlete than Mason Foster but the supposedly super bowl bound Eagles will start him in the middle.

That being said this is the make or break year for Geno on the weakside. Mason Foster’s 4.68 40 time suggests he doesn’t really have the elite speed that is ideal to man the weakside , so I expect Foster to stay in the middle and the Bucs to draft a weakside backer in the first round or two if Geno doesn’t cut down on the missed tackles big time this year while upping the splash plays.

Here’s my question that just begs to be asked but nobody has asked it yet from the media. If one player from the defense can have the helmet headset on (typically the middle linebacker) and our MIKE will be off the field on passing downs, will we be giving the playcalling duties to another player this season? Considering Quincy and Geno will be our nickel LBs and most teams play nickel 33-50% of the time, we would be at a huge disadvantage if our MIKE left the field with his helmet headset on..

There is more than one helmet with a headset. I believe they are given 3, but don’t know all the gory details.

The beauty of what the Eagles did this season is that they have an opportunity to sweep their division right into the playoffs……….. before they lose to the Packers in the first round…… a team that built through the Draft, like the Bucs.

BigMac- Yup. You could be right there. Dekoda has the speed for the Will. Second fastest linebacker at the 2010 combine. And unlike he Geno he has prototype size and strength for the position too. The knock on Dekoda was that he never played up to his athletic talent at FSU. Maybe NFL coaching will get the most out of him. Regardless I definitely think it is the WILL thats on the hotseat this year with Q. Black being entrenched at SAM and new starter at Mike.

@Eric
Are you always a complete rectum or do you just portray one on this site? The way I was raised you tell a man your negative thoughts of him face to face. I will gladly meet with you and give you my opinion of you if you would like. However, if you feel so negatively of Raheem and his ability to communicate, have you ever made an attempt to voice your concerns directly to his face? I’ve had the opportunity to share a great deal of time with the man and find him very intelligent, humble and overwhelmingly friendly. I would not be afraid to wager that a face-to-face meeting of you and Raheem would probably result in you being a kiss-arse laughing and agreeing with every syllable that exits his mouth while you wait with baited breath for him to give you an autograph. Then you would run to the secret cover of your computer keys and bang out your next negative rant.

Well here’s to that BigMac. Watson and Hayward both flashed with some splash plays in limited playing time last year. As far as I’m aware there ISN’T a competition being allowed for the WILL in training camp but maybe there should be? If Geno doesn’t have a VERY solid year then you’d have to believe that competition will be open by next year’s camp.

Joe- You really should stop calling Foster an outside linebacker and saying that he is out of position. He played all three 4-3 linebacker spots in college at different times including, of course, the mike. Not only that but some scouts during the draft process had him listed as an INSIDE linebacker prospect and opinions were split on whether his natural position at the NFL level was on the outside or inside. But to paint him as being “out of position” as if the mike position is totally new to him is false.

August 8th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
There is more than one helmet with a headset. I believe they are given 3, but don’t know all the gory details.

+++++++++

Perhaps there are 3 but NFL rules prohibit any of those helmets (designated with a green dot) from being on the field at the same time. I hardly think it would be practical for Foster to have the green dot and come off the field, have somebody throw Hayes or Black a green dotted helmet, etc.

Joe-usually you don’t hesitate to answer questions, give opinions, etc… can you try to find out this answer?